Coin contbol mechanism fob vendino machines ob the like



J. A. HEBB May 26, 1931.

COIN CONTROL MECHANISM FOR VENDING KACHINES QR TIE LIKE Filed Jan. 27, 1930 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 J. A. Hr-:BB .1,806,757

COIN CONTROL MECHANISM FOR VENDING MACHINES 0R THE LIKE May 26, 1931.

Filed Jan. 27T,l 1930 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 May 26, 1931'. J. A. HEBB 1,806,757

COIN CONTROL MECHANISM FOR VENDING MACHINES CR THE LIKE A Filed Jan. 27, 1930 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 May 26, 931.

J. A. HEBB COIN CONTROL MECHANISM FOR VENDING KAOHINES 0R THE LIKE Filed Jan. 27. 1950 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Patented May 26, 1931 JOHN A. HEIBB, OF HDPWOOD, PENNSYLVANIA com` CONTROL MEGHANISM ron VENDING MACHINES on THE LIKE Application mea January 27, 1930. serial No. 423,626.

This invention relates to improvements in coin control means for vending machines or the like, and is particularly directedto co11- trol means of the character adapted to be opf erated by a predetermined number of coins.

A further object of my invention'is to provide change-making means associated with the coin control for returning the correct change to a purchaser upon the insertion of a coin greater than the denomination toy be expended. A Y

While I have shown and described my invention in connection with a newspaper ,vending machine, it will be understood that the invention is not tobe limited thereto, but may also be applied to other` forms of vending machines or the like.-

Additional objects and advantages will become apparentV from the following specifica- 20 tion taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Fig. 1 is a top plan View .of a newspaper vending machine with the cover removed, showing my coin control appliedthereto, and in interfering position;

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section on the line II-II of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 lis a view similar to Fig. 2, showing the projecting or discharging mechanism of the vending machine advanced;

Fig. 4 is a sectional view taken on the line IV-IV of Fig. 1, showing the coin control mechanism in normal position;

Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 4, showing the coin control mechanism released by means of three pennies;

Fig. 6 is a sectional view on the line VI-.VI of Fig. 1, showing the operation of the coin control mechanism by means of a nickel;

Fig. 7 is a View similar to Fig. 6, showing the operation of the coin control mechanism by means of a dime;

Fig. 8 is a detail section taken `on vthe line VIIIe-VIII of Fig. 6; y v

Figs. 9 and 10 are sectional views taken on the lines IX-IX and X-X of Fig.'1 respectively, and illustrate the coin changing means associated with the coin control;

Fig. 11 is a perspective view of` the coin control mechanism detached and in normal position;

Fig. 12 is aperspective view of the nickel slide of thecoin control shown above its coin trough and receptacle; and

Fig. 13 is a perspective view of the exteriorof the machine, particularly showing a cover plate for closingy certain of the coin slots.

VThe vending machine shown in the drawings is generally similar to that disclosed'in my pending application Serial No. 405,877, filed November 9, 1929, and comprises a main body A of box-like shape, generally rectangu` lar in form, made of wood, metal, or other suitable material for complete protective enclosure of the-interior.

Casing A is provided at its lower front portionrwith a rectangular cavity 4 in which is mounted an inclined ioor 5, resting upon a plurality .of light resilient springs 6, whereby the inclined bottom 5 is capable of a considerable degree of vertical movement. Y Y

The floor or platform 5 is adapted to receive a plurality of folded newspapers 8 as shown in Fig. 2, said platform being depressed by the weight of the newspapers with suflicient slight upward pressure to maintain the uppermost unit in operative vrelation to the discharging fingers or arms 9.

Such fingers, as shown, project forwardly from the lower side of a main cross head 10, to which the fingers are pivoted, as by hinge connections 11. The cross head 10 is cut away as at a to permit upward movement of theiingers for the purpose of lift-ing the upl permost unit from the pack, and shifting it freely outward, as in Fig. 3.

Fingers 9 are provided with downwardly and forwardly projecting incision pins 12, the sharpened points of which extend into the paper of t-he unit suicientlv far to engage its several leavesfor outward propulsion of the entire series of leaves forming the unit, when the -ingers are advanced. e

The upward movement of the lingers is ef fected by means of guide rods 14, superimposed on the lingers and pivotallv connected to the stationary frame 1005 as at 15. SuchV rods are mounted in apertured guides 16 midway of the fingers, and have their end portions resting in the bifurcated ends 17 of the lingers. The configuration of the rods 14 is such as to extend over the forward edge of the cross head 10, and then downwardly and forwardly in the manner described.

Saidcross head is provided at its ends with forwardly extending slides 18, movable in longitudinal traclrways l19 in the stationary frame 10a. Upon moving the cross head 10 forward, the upper surface thereof will engage the rods 14, and lift said'roas and their lingers, to deliver a unit as in Fig. 3. Tension springs 20, secured to the slides 18 and the stationary frame 10a will eff-ect a return of the cross head and its fingers after completion of the delivery. i

The box-like body A and the cover B are provided with co-eXtensive delivery shelf port-ions 21 and 22 respectively, forming a forwardly extending shelf inclined at the general slope of the platform 5. A weather shield 23 hinged at 24 to the cover B, is adapted to normally close the delivery open,- ing 25, and is provided with rearwardly extending ears 26 at the sides of said cover B, having arcuate slots 2? therein for limited outward movement of the shield on studs or pins 28 of the cover.

A protecting door 29 is hinged across the forward end of stationary frame 10a, as at 30, and normally rests against the upper face of the shelf portion 21 in aninclined position, as in Fig. 2. Said door may be provided with an apertured guide 29a for receiving a retaining rod 30a, pivoted at 31a to the frame 10a, and extending through a guide 16a on the erosshead 10, thereby securing the door 29 against wrongful entrance to the interior yof the machine.

The weather shield 23 and the door 29 are sufficiently light to be elevated, as in Fig. 3, by the advancing unit and discharging fingers 9, and to close downwardly by gravity after retraction of the discharging fingers.

The forward propulsion of the cross-head 10 and its flexibly connected shifting fingers 9 is effected by means of a forwardly and backwardly movable shifting head or block 31.

Such block is mounted for longitudinal. movement on a rear shelf 32 and is provided with a. laterally extending portion 33 at one side thereof. An apertured lug 34 is secured to the portion 33 for mounting` one end of operating link 35. The other end of said link is connected to the upper end of lever member 3G, rotatable with cross shaft 3T. vSuch shaft extends outside of the bonV A at one side thereof and is provided with an operating handle lever 38, preferably integral therewith.

rlhe forward end 39 of shifting block 31 is adapted to engage the rear edge of the crosshead 10, and to project the same forwardly to the desired extent, to effect the discharge of a paper unit. Upon rotation of the handle 38 in a forward direction, the said motion is eifected by means of shaft 37, lever 36 and operating link 35. l

For the purpose of controlling the operation of the machine, I have provided an interference mechanism so designed and arranged as to prevent operation until released by the deposit of a predetermined number of coins. Thilo I have shown such mechanism operable for the vending of a newspaper selling at a price of three cents, it will be understood that the same may be altered by changing the number and dimensions of the parte to permit the vending of units at different prices.

According, I provide a transverse stop member or bar 40, slidably mounted in suitable brackets 41, and when in interfering position, adapted to project into the path of a vertical abutment 42 of the block or head 31.

For the purpose of actuating said member 40, abell crank 43 is provided, pivoted at 44 .and having a bifurcated arm thereof engaging a pin 45 on the member 40. The other end of the bell crank is pivotally connected by means of an intermediate link 48 to an end. of a rod 47, said rod being provided with, and for the purpose of operating, a coinslide 48. Y

The coin slide 48 is slidable on a floor 48a, and is formed with a vertically depending coin receptacle 49 to receive the predetermined number of coins c for operation of the machine. When the mechanism is in its normal position, the bottom `opening* of said receptacle is closed by means of a transverse member 50.

A coin control plate 51 is superimposed upon the coin slide 48 and has an elongated slot 52 in thev contacting face thereof to receive a projecting pin or stud 53 of the coin slide. Plate 51 is further provided with a vertical eoin'slot 54 therethrough, normally positioned in register with the coin receptacle 49. It will be seen that the insertion of the required number of coins c, i. c., three pennies in the case selected for illustration, superimposed in edge-to-cdge relationship, will permit the uppermost penny to project above the coin slide 48 for the purpose of forming a-connecting means between the lslide and the coin control plate 51. Hence, a movement of the plate 51 will then produce a movement of the slide 48, thereby withdrawing the stop member 40 from the path of the abutment 42 of the head 31, by means of the connecting linkage.

Obviously, the insertion of one or two penies will provide no connection between the plate 51 and the slide 48, and the member 40 will not be withdrawn by a movement of the plate 51. The slot and pin connection 52-53 permits the plate to be moved without affectingthe slide 48. V

For the purpose of imparting the movement just described to the control pl'ate5l and by a movement of the head 3l, an oscillating bell crank 55 is provided, pivoted at 56, having a roller 57'rotatabl'e in a bifurcated end thereof, and adapted cam face 58 in said head. I

The other end of the bell crank is connected at 59 to a link 610, pivot-ally secured at 6l to a vertically extending portion 62 of the coin control plate 5l. rlhus, a movement of the head 3l will impart movement to the plate 5l in a direction opposite to that of the head. Tension springs 63 maintain y the plate 5l in its normal position and urge the roller 57 against its cam surface at all times. v

Upon the insertion of the three pennies required, as hereinbefore set out, the parte of the mechanism will be moved to the position shown in Fig. 5, during which movement the open-ended receptacle 49V moves over the transverse member 50, thereby permitting the two lowermost pennies to fall into a. suitable depository in the box A. As the head 3l reaches the end of itsdelivery stroke, the portion 64 of the cam surface 58 then in Contact with the roller 57, recedes a slight amount to permit of a relative movement ci the coin control plate 5lwith respect to the coin slide 48, thereby releasing theuppermost penny7 to fall into said depository.

lVhen the delivery stroke oi the head 3l is completed, said head and its associated delivery mechanism are returned to their normal positions by means of the tension springs 20. During this return motion, the control plate 5l returns the coinfslide 48 to its normal position by means of the slot and pin connection 5,2-53, thereby returning the member 40 to interfering position, the plate 51 being assisted by the tension springs 68.

lt is desirable to provide means whereby the control mechanism just described may be operated by the insertion of coins greater than the denomination to be expended rfor the article purchased.V To this end, l have shown additional coin slides 65 and 66, said slides being disposed in the same plane as the slide 48 and adapted to be operated by means of a nickel and dime respectively.

The nickel slide 65 is formed with a coin slot 67 therethrough and is so positioned on the floor 48a' as to contact with the slidey 48. Coin control plate 5l is provided with a slot 68 therethrough normally in register with the slot 67 for the introduction of a nickel n by means of a suitable guide from the outside ot the vending machine'. A semi-cylindrical trough 69 having a radius substantially equal to that of a nickel, isformed in the floor 48a and has a slot 70 at one end thereof immediately below said coin slots 67 and 68. The'width of the slot 70 is less than the diameter of a nickel but" is large 'enough to to engage a permit the passage of a dime or penny. An abutment -71 extends downwardly into the trough 69 from beneath the slide 65 the slots 67 and 70. l

When a nickel n is inserted in the said slots it will rest in the trough 69, and a portion thereof will extend into the slot 68 of the plate 5l, thereby providing connecting means with the coin slide 65. And since the slide 65 contacts with the slide 48, movement of the plate 51 will move plate 65, which in turn moves the .plate 48, to withdraw the stop member 40 as described. The nickel n will be carried to the end of the trough 69 by the abutment 7l and discharged through an enlarged opening 7 2 into a suitable depository. Similarly, the dime slide66 is formed with a coin slot 67 a, andthe plate 5l with a registering eoin slot 68a. Said slide contacts with the slide 65, so that upon the insertion of a dime cl in said coin slots, it will rest upon the ioor 48a, extending upwardly into Athe slotl 68a to provide connecting means between the slide and plate,cand a movement of the platev 51 will be transmitted to the slide 66, slide adjacent 65 and slide 48, thereby withdrawing the stop member 40. The dime fl is discharged into an opening 7 3 in the floor 48a.

The coin slides 65 and 66 extend laterally as shown for the attachment of coin changing means, including depending portions 65a and 66a respectively. To the depending portion 65a is secured a change plate 74, extending in the direction of motion of the slides, and below the open end of a penny reservoir or tube 75. The change plate 74 is slightly thinner than the thickness of two pennies, and has an opening therethrough of sub-stantially the same diameter as a penny, normally positioned below said reservoiigasshown in Fig. 9. lVhen the machine is operated by the insertion of the nickel a, the plate 74 will Imove with the slide 65, and deliver two cents change to an outer receptacle 76, where it may be removed by the purchaser.

Depending portion 66erl of the slide 66 is similarly provided with a change plate 77, having a thickness slightly less than that of a nickel, and extending beneath a nickel reservoir `78. An opening therethrough is adapted to shear oli a nickel fromA the pile in Vthe vreservoir and deliver it, with the two paper selling ata price of three cents, the

dime slot only may be made available to the purchaser.

Y The cover B of the machine is formedwith ilo penny, nickel and dime slots l?, N and D respectively, s aid slots normally registering with the corresponding slots in the coin control plate 51. A. cover plate 83 is provided which may be used to cover the slots N and l? when vending a paper selling at the price of ten cents, or may be so placed as to cover the slot P only, When it is desired to vend a live-cent paper. nthe case of vending the ten-cent paper, the change Will be removed from the reservoirs .75 and 78. But when vending a five-cent paper, the pennies only will be removed from the change reservoir 75. and nickels retained in the niclel reservoir 7S to permit the return of a nickel change when a dime is inserted for the purchase of a five-cent paper.

The cover plate 83 may be secured against removal in any suitable manner, as by studs 84 extending through the cover B and secured thereto by nuts or Cotter pins.

Suitable means may be provided, as the ratchet-s 79 and 80, and their respective pawls 8l and S2, to prevent repeated delivery strokes of the head 31 for a single release by means of the coin control. Such construction more clearly described in my pending apilication supra.

Various changes and modifications are contemplated Within the scope of the following claims.

That l claim is:

1. In a coin control mechanism of the character described, the combination with commodity shifting means adapted to be actuated by the operator, of an interfering member therefor, a coin control plate movable by the shifting means, a coin slide operatively connected With the interfering member for receiving a predetermnied number of coins, one of said coins being adapted to engage the coin control plate to impart a movement to the coin slide for retraction of the interfering member, by a movement of the shifting means, and means for returning the plate and slide to their normal positions by a 'eturn movement of the shifting means, whereby the interfering` member is returned te interfering position.

2. ln a coin control mechanism of the charater described, the combination with commodity shifting means adapted to be actuated by the operator of an interfering member therefor, a` coin control plate movable by the shifting means, a, coin slide opera-tively rennected with the interfering member for receiving a predetermined number of coins of a denomination less than the sum to be eX- pended, a. second coin slide positioned adj acent said first slide for receiving a coin of denomination greater than the sum to be expended, said coin being adapted to engage the coin control plate to impart a movement to both of said Vslides for retraction of the interfering member by a movement of the shifting means.

3. In a coin control mechanism of the character described, the combination with commodity shifting means adapted to be actuated by the operator, of an interfering member therefor, a coin control plate movable by the shifting means, a coin slide operatively connected with the interfering member for receiving a predetermined number of coins of a denomination less than the sum to be expended, a secon-d coin slide positioned adjacent said first slide for receiving a coin of a denomination greater than the sum to be expended, said coin. being adapted to engage the coin control plate to impart a movement to both of said slides for retraction of the interfering member by a movement of the shifting means, and means associated with the second slide for delivering coins in change.

4t. ln a coin control mechanism. of the character described, the combination with commodity shifting means adapted to be actuated by the operator, of an interferingv member therefor, a coin control plate movable by the shifting means, a coin slide operatively connected With the interfering member for receiving a predetermined number of coins of a denomination less than the sum to be eX- pended, a` plurality of coin slides positioned adjacent each other and said first slide for receiving coins of a denomination greater than the sum to be expended, and a. coin of a denomination greater than the sum to be eX- pended adapted to be entered into one of said plurality of slides and engage the coin control plate, to impart a movement to said slide and the first slide, for retraction of the interfering member by a movement of the shifting means, and associated means for delivering coins in change.

5. In a coin control mechanism of the character described, the combination with commodity shifting means adapted to be actuated by the operator of an interfering member therefor, a coin slide operatively connected With the interfering member, a. coin receptacle therein for receiving a predetermined number of coins, a coin control plate slidable on the coin slide and movable by the shifting means, a coin slot therethrough normally registering with said coin receptacle, one of said coins being adapted to extend from the receptacle into said slot to impart a movement to the coin slide for retraction of the interfering member by a movement of the shifting means.

6. In a coin control mechanism of the char- Iacter described, the combination with commodity shifting' means adapted to be actuated by the operator, of an interfering member therefor, a plurality of coin slides disposed in the same plane, one of said slidesI being operatively connected with the interfering member, a coin control plate slidable v on said slides and movable by the shifting means, registering coin slots in said plate and slides, a coin adapted to be entered into one of the slides and engage the coin control plate to impart a movement to the slide for retraction of the interfering member-by a movement of the shifting means.

7. Coin control mechanism for a newspaper vending machine having delivering means and an interfering member therefor consisting of a coin control plate movable by the delivering means, a coin slide operatively connected With the interfering member for receiving a predetermined number of coins of a denomination less than the sum to be expended, a second coin slide positioned adjacent said first slide for receiving a coin of a denomination greater than-the sum to be expended, said coin being adapted to engage the coin control plate to impart a movement to both of said slides for retraction of the interfering member by a movement of the delivering means, and associated means for delivering coins in change. y

8. Coin control mechanism for a newspaper vending machine having delivering means and an interfering member therefor consisting of a coin control plate movable by the delivering means, a coin slide operatively connected With the interfering member for receiving a predetermined number of coins of a denomination less than the sum to be eX- pended, a second coin slide positioned adjacent said first slide for receiving a coin of a denomination greater than the sum to beexpended, said coin being adapted to engage the coin control plate to impart a movement to both of said slides for retraction of the interfering member by a movement v*of the delivering means, and means associated With the second slide for delivering coins in change.

9. In a coin-controlled mechanism of the character described, the combination with commodity shifting means adapted to be actuated bythe operator, of an interfering member therefor, a coin-controlled plate movable by the shifting means, a coin slide operatively connected With the interfering member, and registering coin-receiving slots fering member by a movement of the shifting means.

In testimony whereof I hereunto aix my signature.

JOHN A. I-IEBB.

in the said plate and slide adapted to be connected by a coin to impart a movement to the coin slide for retraction of the interfering member by a movement of the shifting means. v

l0. In a coin-controlled mechanism of the character described, the combination 'with commodity shifting means adapted to be actuated by the operator, of an interfering mem'- ber therefor, a coin-controlled plate movable by the shifting means, a plurality of coin slides operatively connected With the interfering member, a plurality of coin-receiving slots in the coin controlled plate, and coin-receiving slots in the coin slides reg- 

